County-level analysis of crop residues availability for fuel ethanol production in Ohio.

摘要

Increasing demand of maize for ethanol production places significant pressure on the availability of maize for food and animal feed. Other feedstocks such as crop residues, energy crops, wood waste, and forest residues are being considered for cellulosic ethanol production in the near future. The availability of crop residues for cellulosic ethanol production in Ohio, USA was analysed in this study. Results showed that two clusters of counties, each with a collection radius of less than 80 km (50 miles), had the capability to provide feedstock for two ethanol plants with feedstock demand of 5000 dry tonnes per day each. These two plants would be located in the northwestern region of Ohio to produce a total of 927 million litre (245 million gal) of ethanol per year. Other counties that have low biomass availability could grow energy crops such as switchgrass and provide mixed feedstocks for a cellulosic ethanol plant.